The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched its most powerful rocket GSLV Mark III carrying GSAT-19 communication satellite from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The rocket is carrying 3,136-kilogram weighed GSAT-19 communication satellite and will place it a distance of 36,000 km from earth. Currently, India has to take the help of foreign countries if it wants to launch communication satellites beyond 2.3 tons. India’s heaviest rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV-Mk III-D1) weighing 640 tonnes would be launching the communication satellite GSAT- 19 with a lift-off mass of 3,136 kilograms. Currently, two operational rockets- the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and GSLV-Mk II- have the capacity of 2.5 tonnes.

Source: dna June 05, 2017 13:19 UTC